Weekly Photo Challenge: Texture

This photo is a response to the Weekly Photo Challenge “texture” theme presented by the folks at The Daily Post. Cat fur (that still attached to a cat, specifically) is one of my favorite soft textures. I hope you like the photo.

“I’m Watching You”, Nikon D800, ISO 1000, f/5.6 at 1/200 sec., 85mm

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Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings.
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What’s this?

Curiosity is the very basis of education and if you tell me that curiosity killed the cat, I say only the cat died nobly.
         — Arnold Edinborough

“What’s this?” [Click the image to enlarge/reduce its size.] Nikon D800, ISO 200, f/5.6 at 1/200 sec., 145mm

Let’s Be Social
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You’ll find me on Instagram at @earlharrisphoto, posting photos captured and edited on my iPhone. I am posting a lot of photos of cats there, too. #herekittykitty #instagramcats

I’m tweeting and Twittering at @earlharrisphoto

And of course, I’m on Facebook

Cleo the Cat

“The cat is above all things a dramatist.”
– Margaret Benson

Tortie’s seem to have very distinct and vocal personalities. Cleo is no different. At 11 years old, she is very affectionate and very curious, but very specific about wanting things on her terms. It took a while to gain her confidence and peak her interest in what was going on, but eventually the moment came. Here’s the photo; I hope she likes it.

Nikon D300, ISO 200, f/2.0 at 1/250 sec, 50 mm

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If you missed my earlier post with tips for improving your cat photos, you can read it here.

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Noko: One Beautiful Girl

“The dog may be wonderful prose, but only the cat is poetry.”
– French proverb

It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally a cat comes along that seems to have been waiting for someone to show up and take its photo. I am happy I was around when this beautiful girl was having one of those photogenic moments.

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Check out the awesome Cat Trees from Amazon.com!

Rocky’s Picture Horror Show

“Never try to outstubborn a cat.”
― Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough for Love

Rocky has the hardship of having to put up with an owner who loves to take photos of him. [Yes, that would be me.] Over the few years I have had the joy of Rocky being in my life, he has learned to put up with the camera, though he does so with a certain amount of disdain.

I find that some of my best photos of him come when I have the forethought to point the camera in the opposite direction of that I want to shoot in. That’s because it’s most likely to be the direction he’ll go when he sees me lift the camera to my eye.

Nikon D300, ISO 200, f/5.6 at 1/60 sec., 130 mm

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Refuge from the Misery of Life

There are two means of refuge from the misery of life –
music and cats.
– Albert Schweitzer

The Humane Society of Utah has some beautiful cats currently available for adoption. Here are just a few of the wonderful animals I photographed yesterday. If you are looking for a feline companion in the Salt Lake City, UT area, these guys would be so grateful if you’d come by and get acquainted.

Don’t shop; adopt!

Sebian, Kennel 108, Animal ID #A055175
This boy loves to love ya, baby! And who can resist those beautiful blue eyes?

Abbie has beautiful coloring, personality, and is waiting for you in Kennel 113. Her animal ID is A054997.

“Loki” must translate to “sweet” in this case, because this little one is more of a lover than a trickster. You can find Loki in kennel 106. Her animal ID is A026666.

Thomas didn’t want his picture taken; he just wanted to lay in my lap and snuggle! He’ll snuggle with you, too, when you stop by kennel 125 to say hello. His animal ID is A054342.

Please forgive me for getting personal for a moment, but I’d like to ask for your prayers for my grandmother, Phyllis, who is 99. While I was taking the photos used in today’s post, I learned she had fallen and broken her hip and shoulder after apparently suffering a heart attack. She is in hospital in critical condition, facing surgery today. Thank you and God bless!

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Thank you!

Blessings of Love for Your Home

Yesterday, I put in a few hours doing my volunteer photography at the (independent, non-profit) Humane Society of Utah, so don’t be surprised today’s post features cats. I photographed 27 cats; not even half of the total number now available for adoption. If you’re looking for a cat (dog, rabbit, or …) please choose the adoption option and visit your local shelter.

What do you think of the photos? Do they capture anything you would consider reflective of the animal’s character? It is truly important to me that I do this work well.

Here’s a small sampling of the love waiting to bless your home.

Dancer, Kennel 137, Animal ID A054549

Dash, Kennel 108, Animal ID A053418

Fluffers, Kennel 104, Animal ID A054088

Kitty We, Kennel 113, Animal ID A054021

Little Mama, Kennel 104, Animal ID A054087

Londyn, Kennel 108, Animal ID A053419

Marco, Kennel 110, Animal ID A054395

Marley, Kennel 111, Animal ID A053161

Nermal, Kennel 100, Animal ID A054212

Paul, Kennel 132, Animal ID A053199

Shadow, Kennel 115, Animal ID A054156

Zoe, Kennel 139, Animal ID A053840

Egypt, Kennel 107, Animal ID A054143

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DJ, The English Bulldog

I had the pleasure of photographing DJ yesterday, an English bulldog who is about a year old. DJ has a great face. He was a real trooper for the shoot, putting up with my flash and requests to please perk up his ears; look this way; look that way; look up; look down; stay; sit; ignore the camera; and so forth. (Fortunately, DJ’s upright companion, Logan, has worked out the communication key, which smelled a bit like jerky.)

Logan asked specifically that something fun and different be included among the photos she’d get. She mentioned she liked some of the artistic effects she had seen applied using Photoshop. The image below is among those Logan will receive today. I have to admit that I’m pretty much a purest at this point in my photography; I don’t use a lot of “out of camera” effects or Photoshop filters.

Do you think she will like it? Please let me know your honest thoughts.

[Curious about my Lightsphere hack? Just ask.]

Nikon D300, SB700 fill-flash with hacked Gary Fong Lightsphere, ISO 200, 1/400 sec at f/1.8. Brush stroke obtained using the Adobe Photoshop CS5 Artistic >;;; Dry Brush filter.

Looking for a pet? Please save a life: choose the shelter adoption option.

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